Help with My first Axe

N

noeesp

Joined
Aug 15, 2010
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448
I just received a norland axe and it has a little rust on it. It is in fantastic shape and very sharp. I want to strip it and maybe polish it a bit. I don't want to get it to a mirror finish or anything like that but want to shine her up a bit. What needs to be done to seal in the finish and protect it from rust? suggestions appreciated.
Norland_Axe_1.JPG

Norland_Axe.JPG
 
No disrespect intended but If I wanted a Granfors Bruks I would have just bought one. I wanted a vintage axe that I could use when needed. There is something to be said about a good old tool! Sorry but I am going to use it. Question still stands.
 
To clean it, I would just use some sand paper. It looks to be in good shape to begin with. I know people have also had good results with putting the head in CLR. To protect it I just use Vaseline. It has a good way of staying on the metal.

http://woodtrekker.blogspot.com/
 
I just rub a bit of whatever gun oil I happen to grab into mine, no rust over many years. All of mine are users. If you have a collectible, I use Renaissance Wax, great stuff!
 
If you oil it every once in a while, rust is not an issue. That axe probably hasn't been touched in decades, and it has very little rust on it as it is. Sometimes after I clean an axe head, I also put boiled linseed on the head because it does not evaporate when it dries, so it seals the head pretty well.

Good looking axe! Norlund axes are some of the best. That looks like their 3.5 lb splitting axe, I have one and was using it yesterday as a matter of fact.
 
Here is what I do - not an expert -

I have my 4 inch grinder and have at it. If you can, remove the handle. Once all the rust and gunk has been removed, I will then hit it with some WD40, and let it sit for a day. Then after that, it depends on how "pretty" you want it to look. You can sandpaper it, finer the better, or you can try and buff it, or you can leave it as is. All depends on what you want. For protection, I hit mine with WD40 and call it good.
 
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